Gratitude

I'm continually amazed at myself, and my lack of faith. [Disclaimer: This is one of those posts that is definitely more for moms like me trying to make ends meet, but hopefully others of you can relate in another area of your life!]
Today was one of those days that really just blew me away with God's answer to a prayer offered rather halfheartedly last night. On Sunday, as we were getting ready for church, and Abigail asked for help picking out clothes, we realized how very few outfits she had appropriate for fall/winter, and decent enough for church. Even though we have a pretty laidback 'dresscode" at church (read - NO dress code), some things she's chosen in the past just really pushed my limits of tolerance for her fashion sense. Sunday, we realized that she just didn't have much option, since most pants/jeans were too short, and everything else it seemed, was just worn out. She ended up wearing a warm up suit...looking cute and coordinated, but still! James and I agreed, "We have got to get her some clothes, somehow." But, financially, I just didn't see how we could do much beyond the thrift store, so tried to think of when I could get by there this week. Last night, I prayed near bedtime, pondering our dilemma over piles of laundry, and just mentioned in passing it would be great if God could give me some great deals of decent size 4T girl clothes when I went to the thrift store next.
Today we'd already planned to meet my best friend since high school, Julie, and her kids for a picnic. It was a sweet time with our kiddos, and unfortunately, we hadn't seen each other since about this time last year and enjoyed the time together. At the end of our visit, she surprised me by saying she had a bag of hand-me-downs in her car for us. Her daughter, Christa, is 5, and these were mostly size 4T - just perfect for Abi for the fall/winter!! I was almost awestruck at the idea that God had answered that prayer so easily, with such a bounty of beautiful clothes, and shoes, including some great purple Keds my girl is LOVING. But, wait! There's more!!
Then, it was time to head home from our picnic, visit quickly with James, before he left to go to work. I thought to call my friend Amy, to ask if we could borrow her van for the afternoon while I ran a few errands I just couldn't get to before James had to leave in our only vehicle. She graciously agreed, and then when James dropped us by her house, she very generously invited Isaac and Abigail to stay and play with Laney and Jude. So, I had the van to myself, ran a few errands (no clothes at the thrift store) and then I returned back to her house. Within a few minutes, after sharing God's provision through Julie that day, she started rummaging through Laney's closet (another older, tiny-bit-bigger-than-Abigail friend) and started piling huge amounts of clothes up for Abigail too. I really felt incredulous that not only were these friends so generous, and thoughtful, and moved by the Holy Spirit to help our family in such a tangible way, those of you who know Abigail and her, um, discerning taste and sensitive nature to fabric (or extreme pickiness and fickle taste, depending on how you look at it), these were like-new clothes that she'll actually probably wear! And, that is a HUGE deal.
O.k., enough of that. My point is that my friends are great, and through these next few months, will be ministering to me because of their help with a simple thing like hand-me-downs. However, God is even more awesome, to quickly and overwhelmingly, answer this petition I made, though I didn't even ask it believing He would provide. O me of little faith.